Switch for i-beam trolley-tracks.



H. E. BALLARD.

SWITCH FOR I-BBAM TROLLEY TRACKS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY17, 1911.

1,026,239, Patented May 14, 1912.

INVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANOGHAPN c0, WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. BALLARD, OF I-IOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO COBURNTROLLEY TRACK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WILLIMANSETT, MASSACHUSETTS, ACOR- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SWITCH FOR I-BEAM TROLLEY- TRACKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 17, 1911.

Patented May 14, 1912. Serial No. 638,836.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY E. BALLARD, acitizen of the United States of America. residing at Holyoke, in thecounty of I-Iampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Switches for I-Beam 'lrolley-Tracks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an in'iprovement in switches and isparticulzn'ly designed for use in connection with heavy I-beam overheadtrolley tracks where it is desired to allow the truck to pass from onetrack to another.

The invention consists, broadly, of a frame member of channel-ironconstruction, and mounted within this frame is a movable or switch-framewhich carries sections of the track that are adapted to register withthe main track; these sections may be either straight or curved.

Suitable means are provided for moving the switch-frame transversely ofthe maintrack and into registration therewith.

In the drawings forming part of this application,Figure 1 is a plan viewshowing portions of the main-track,-both the curved and the straight;also the frame within which the switclnframe is movably mounted, andcable devices for moving the switch-frame. Fig. 2 is a transversesectional view on the line 2-2., Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional View onthe line 3-3, Fig. 1, illustrating the cable devices for moving theswitch-frame and the rollers attached thereto which move on thehorizontal flanges of the main frame.

Referring to the drawings, in detail, a designates, as a whole, the mainframe which. consists of channel-iron pieces I) that are secured tosuitable I-beams c by means of bolts of, and which constitute a part ofthe main track. Bracket-pieces e serve to secure the side pieces of theframe to the end pieces. The lower horizontal flanges 71 of thechannel-irons f are provided with tread-bars g and bolts h secure thesetread-bars to the lower horizontal flanges of the channel-irons f. Thetread-bars g receive the anti-friction wheels j of the movableswitch-frame Zr: and are secured to the frame so as to lessen thefriction when the switch-frame is moved from one position to another.This switchframe is composed of channel-irons m to which theanti-friction wheels are secured by means of the bolts 0. Thechannel-irons m are connected together at their ends by means of theparts 7) which are riveted to the plates that are, in turn, secured tothe channel-irons m. Located within the switchframe Z: is a curvedsection of I-beam track 9' that is adapted to register with the maintrack sections c and t, and a straight I- beam section a that is adaptedto register with the sections and u of I-beam construction which aresecured to the main frame a, as indicated at 10.

As a means for moving the switch-frame so as to cause either the curveor the straight section of the track to register with the part 0, cablesor chains :0 and y are provided which pass over sheave-wheels e that aremounted on the upper edge of the frame a.

This switch is particularly designed for overhead trolleys in which thewheels of the trucks travel on the horizontal flanges 7" of the I-beamsand the corresponding flanges of the movable sections 1' and p of theframe 7a. It will therefore be seen that the movable frame Z: is capableof permitting a truck which is supported on the main I- beams c or w topass either in a straight direction, by means of the section 79, or in acurved direction by means of the section 9'.

A suitable stop plate is attached to the movable frame Z', as shown at70 which is for the purpose of blocking the end of the main section wwhen the curved track is in use, preventing derailment of the trolleytruck.

\Vhat I claim, is

1. In an overhead trolley switch of I-beam construction a main framecomposed of channel iron and supported on the end sections of the maintrack, a track on a flange of the main frame, a frame mounted fortransverse movement in the main frame and provided with antifrictionrollers to engage the track on the web of the main frame, sections ofI-beams mounted in the movable frame and adapted to register with theend sections of the main track.

2. An overhead trolley switch for trolley tracks that are adapted to runon the flanges of I-bcams, an open rectangular shaped fixed frame formedfrom channel iron, a movable frame located within the fixed frame,sections of I-beams mounted in the movable frame and adapted to registerwith the end portions of the I-beams of the main tracks when the movableframe is operated, a stop device in the movable frame to prevent atrolley truck from becoming derailed if the movable frame is in acertain position, and cable devices to operate the movable frame.

3. An overhead trolley switch construction having in combination Withthe end sections or portions of the main tracks to permit a trolleytruck to pass from a main track to either one of the other tracks, amain frame composed of channel-iron and supported on the ends of themain tracks, tread-bars secured to a horizontal Web of the HARRY E.BALLARD.

Witnesses:

AzIo A. OOBURN, GEO. D. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

